So too is their second consecutive clean sheet on the road, against a Queens Park Rangers side who had scored twice in each of their first four home league games before Saturday.

The result means that Nigel Clough's men, outclassed against Leeds United a fortnight ago, have taken five points from three games since that 5-0 defeat at Elland Road. That takes real character and resolve, and Burton are again proving to have that in bucketloads.

The points tally continues to tick over, that sought-after momentum is building nicely, and the team - and the squad as a whole, importantly - seems to be gelling more as a unit with every passing game.

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QPR's sloppiness went unpunished, and the hosts were unsurprisingly more alert after the break, when they looked the more likely to score and asked serious questions of the Brewers rearguard.

The answers, in the end, were pretty emphatic.

Albion began their afternoon at Loftus Road in almost identical fashion to their previous trip in January, with Clough, his players and the management staff completing their journey to the QPR ground by walking down South Africa Road and arriving at the ground on foot, among the home and away supporters arriving early.

The build-up to this one, though, was wildly different to last season's for Burton.

Eight months previously, the Brewers sat in the relegation zone for the first time in the season after a last-gasp defeat at Cardiff City seven days previously.

That meant Murphy was joined by Jamie Allen and Lucas Akins in central midfield, Sean Scannell and Marvin Sordell the forwards.

John Brayford and Stephen Warnock continued at wing-back, while Jake Buxton, Kyle McFadzean and Ben Turner were provided with another opportunity to show the ever-growing understanding in their partnership.

That trio - playing in front of goalkeeper Stephen Bywater once again - acted more as the deepest line of attack in the early stages at Loftus Road, such was Albion's intent out of the blocks, allied with the visitors' sloppiness.

Murphy's positional awareness made it appear as though he had the entire centre of the field to himself at times.

On one such occasion, a sloppy clearance by QPR centre-back Jack Robinson dropped to him in the centre circle, and the Leeds loanee's cute first-time pass found Scannell in some space on the edge of the home box.

On another afternoon, he might have gone straight for goal. Instead, he delayed with his second touch and was quickly closed down, the pass through into the path of Allen's run also cut out.

With Burton embarking on regular attacks, there was space for QPR to exploit too. They also looked most dangerous on the counter, Conor Washington wasting one such opportunity when delaying his pass to Jamie Mackie.

It felt a little like two away sides looking to hit each other at their most vulnerable, with Albion landing more punches and Bywater originally only tested by his own player, Allen almost diverting Luke Freeman's tantalising cross into his own net.

Albion could not capitalise when the game was there for the taking, though. And Holloway responded to what he labelled 'the worst first-half performance' he had seen from his side by switching things up, target man Matt Smith brought on to offer a more obvious outlet up front for the hosts.

It made a difference quickly, with the Rs' more direct play bypassing the midfield and not allowing Murphy, Allen and Akins to battle for it.

Burton will always relish such aerial bombardment, but there was a worry that they would eventually wilt as they struggled to break out of their own half and get on the ball themselves to draw the sting out of Holloway's side.

That was no issue for Buxton, McFadzean and Turner.

They battled with Smith, Washington and Mackie as QPR went with four up top, showing strength to win the race to headers time and again.

Buxton especially stood out. He looks fitter and more alert with every passing game, and while his prowess in the air shone here, he also provided an important moment of defensive quality on the ground when QPR were at their most dominant.

Wszolek raced past the attempted challenge of Sordell on the right flank to race into the box, before cutting possession back for Washington, lurking around the penalty spot.

He connected with the shot first time, aiming for just inside Bywater's far post - but Buxton was across to get himself in the way and clear the danger.

Just as Holloway had looked to the bench to change things, Clough also utilised his substitutes in an attempt to wrestle some control back.

Dyer replaced Scannell as a like-for-like replacement for pace behind, while Hope Akpan came on to offer a more telling presence in the middle at the expense of Allen, who saw less and less of play as the game wore on.

Luke Varney then made a late appearance to provide that precious outlet up top - and it did relieve some of the pressure.

QPR's desperation grew as the clock ticked down and their supporters' frustration became more vocal.

There was to be no way through, Josh Scowen seeing a good chance well blocked and a fizzing 20-yard effort from Freeman arcing away from goal at the last minute when it looked destined for the top corner.

On reflection, a point apiece felt about right given that neither side was able to produce the one moment of quality that would have been needed to win the game.

Albion came closer, but they were just not quite ruthless enough.

Still, another point on the road keeps the tally ticking and maintains exactly their desired point-per-game ratio.

Just how good the draw was will perhaps become more clear at the end of a week which now sees Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers come to the Pirelli Stadium.